… this pattern is evidently sane, well-tested and produces good results: talk to people. Figure out what they want. Don’t rely on them telling you what they want, and don’t rely on you knowing what they want. Figure out a way to separate what they want from how they want it, which problem they want solved from how they want it solved, and work towards delivering that in the most appropriate way possible. Do rely on them and yourself telling you what they like.